The name ‘Italy’ comes from the Latin word Italia, which is also its name in Greek. There is no single source that confirms the origin of the name. According to a theory, the name comes from ‘Vitali’, a name of the tribe that settled in Calabria (located at the toe of modern Italy). In Latin, vitulus means ‘calf’ thereby suggesting Italia to be the land of calf. Another theory suggests, there was a Greek ruler by the name of Italus, who was said to be among the earliest inhabitants of modern day Italy, who also introduced agriculture there and hence the connection with the name ‘calf’.
